1925: CBC Radio History

CRVC was one of six of BC's first AM radio stations. The CNR became the predecessor of the CBC when in 1925 the railway decided to introduce radio listening aboard the trains in transit. The passengers would sit in a parlour car and listen by earphones or horn speakers. There was an operator provided to control the receiving sets. To ensure the quality of reception, a series of transmitters were located at various cities and towns along the railway line.

Eventually a coast-to-coast radio network was established. The CNR radio stations were identified by their location including CNRV – Vancouver. As a matter of history, the CNR operated the first coast-to-coast radio network in North America. Down south, the NBC and CBS networks went coast-to-coast later in 1928.

The CNR network functioned until 1932, when, during the depression, it was decided by the government to form the Canadian Radio Commission. The call letter system was altered slightly - hence CRCV Vancouver.

In 1935 there was another change - The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In Vancouver, CRCV became CBR then CBU.
In those early years, night-time Canadian radio was completely different from today’s programming. To encourage Canadian talent, the broadcast regulations required that no recordings were to be played after seven-thirty to eleven-thirty at night. So, we listened to all-live talent shows.
There was a wide variety to tune in to - mysteries, commentaries, newscasts, man-in-the-street broadcasts, dramas, musicals, amateur hours, dance-hall remotes, newscasts, variety shows, political discussions, and religious broadcasts. All the radio stations would have on hand a staff pianist. This position was used as a stand-by strategy when, for various reasons, the scheduled program was not available for broadcast.

At the Vcancouver stations, there were some programs where the public was invited to watch the performances directly at the station studios. Very popular musical variety shows were held at downtown theaters such as the Orpheum.

To learn more about early radio in BC, check out Jack Bennest's great site, BC Radio History.